ABOUT US
Established in Kenosha, WI, home of the Pierhead Lighthouse, the Lighthouse Basketball Camp has been created to foster the optimal camp environment based on development and competition. We believe in providing a professional setting where players and teams can showcase their true talents and build team chemistry in preparation for their high school and collegiate seasons.
Our mission is simple. We aspire to serve the game, students, and officials in a positive environment focused on quality repetitions and feedback. This is why we have partnered with Carthage College to host this event. They share our mission to continue to positively impact and grow the game of basketball in our area, both on the competition and officiating side.
In addition to providing quality opportunities for team and individual growth towards the players, we are also partnering with the best area officials in the professional, collegiate, and high school ranks to train and develop more quality referees in the area. As the national shortage of referees continues and impacts all levels of amateur sports, we are stepping up to help provide the right education and guidance to reverse the trend so that the game of basketball can continue to positively grow in our area!
If you would like to be a part of this mission, please sign up and secure your spot soon, as team and official registrations are expected to fill up fast! If you would like to make a positive impact on the game of basketball in a different way as a potential sponsor or vendor, please contact the Lighthouse Basketball Camp leadership team at [email protected].
We look forward to hearing from you! Together we can make an impact to build the game of basketball in the best way forward!
Let us serve as your beacon to make positive change!
Matthew T Hardy
Matt completed a Bachelors of Science in Physical Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1989.
Matt is the Director of Operations for H & H sports LLC. As Director of Operations, Matt is in charge of training and assigning basketball officials for the Kenosha Boys and Girls club and the Racine Lakeshore Officiating Association (RLOA).
Matt just finished his fourth season Officiating NCAA women’s college basketball in the IL/WI Skyway Conference.
In addition to the NCAA Skyway conference, Matt also just finished his 13th season officiating high school basketball for the WIAA, where he was selected to work the WIAA state girls tournament finals three times (2022, 2024, 2025). Matt is also Illinois High School Association (IHSA) licensed for basketball and football.
In addition to officiating, Matt is also starting his 29th year coaching track and field at Kenosha Bradford high school.
Erik Aellig
Erik completed an MBA from the University of Wisconsin in 2020 and a BBA double major in Finance & Entrepreneurship from UW-Whitewater in 2014
Erik just finished his third season as a referee in the NBA G League during the 2024-25 season. As a part of the NBA G League staff, he has also officiated in annual NBA Summer League games and has been selected to officiate in the Basketball Africa League.
In addition to the NBA G League, Erik completed his 4th season as a referee for Athletes Unlimited and was also a part of the officiating staff for the inaugural season of Unrivaled basketball. Erik has also officiated small college basketball for all the WI/IL area NCAA conferences.
Prior to officiating men’s collegiate basketball, he officiated women’s collegiate basketball for six years beginning in 2011. In 2022, Erik retired from 13 seasons of officiating high school basketball for the WIAA, where he was selected to work the WIAA State Boys Tournament four times (2021, 2020, 2019, and 2017).
In addition to officiating on the floor, Erik enjoys helping others develop in their officiating endeavors. He was formerly the Director of Referee Operations for the Wisconsin Basketball League from 2020-2022. While in this role, Erik trained a staff of 30+ referees and helped develop 12+ referees to be identified by the NBA scouting program as potential candidates in their summer training sessions.
During his time at UW-Whitewater, Erik was also the coordinator of basketball officials for the intramural program. During his time in the intramural program, Erik achieved the Wisconsin Intramural & Recreation Sports Association (“WIRSA”) Most Valuable Official award two consecutive years in the state WIRSA basketball tournaments of 2010 and 2011. He also helped develop several officials into becoming prominent local high school and collegiate referees in Wisconsin.
Lance Gordon
Lance completed a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from UW-Milwaukee and an Associates Degree in Nursing from Gateway Technical College
Lance just finished his 14th season officiating basketball. He currently officiates Men’s NCAA Division II (since 2020) and Division III (since 2019). Lance also served on this year’s inaugural season staff of Unrivaled basketball. Lance has been selected 3 times as a NACC playoff official (2022, 2024 alternate, 2025) and once as a GLIAC playoff official (2023 alternate).
Lance also had a 10 year tenure refereeing WIAA high school basketball and was selected to officiate 5 sectional finals. He also officiated in the Wisconsin Basketball League, where he was selected to work the 2022 Finals and 2021 Semi-Finals. Additionally, he served as an instructor at the 2022 WBL instructional clinic.
RJ Johnson
RJ just completed his third season officiating in the NBA G League. As a part of the NBA G League staff, he has officiated in annual NBA Summer League events along with being selected to officiate in the Basketball Africa League, NBA Combine & Fall Invitational.
RJ also works Division 1 men’s college basketball and is a FIBA certified Referee.
Jacob Budnik
Jacob just finished his first season as a professional basketball referee for Athletes Unlimited and Unrivaled basketball.
In addition, he officiates Division 2 & 3 mens collegiate basketball, where he has been selected as a Division 3 NCAA tournament official. Jacob also has previous experience officiating high school and semi-pro basketball in the state of Wisconsin.
Jacob began officiating in college at UW Madison’s Division of Recreation & Wellbeing during his sophomore year.
Alicia Shivers
Alicia currently officiates D1 NCAA women’s collegiate basketball.
In addition, she also completed her first season as a professional basketball referee for Athletes Unlimited basketball.
Alicia also has experience at the high school and semi-professional basketball levels. She was selected to officiate the Wisconsin Basketball League (WBL) Final in 2021.
Mike LaGrassa
Mike officiated 22 years as a women’s collegiate basketball and 28 years as a WIAA basketball official. He also officiated 5 years as an AIA basketball official in Arizona, where he would work the Nike National Girls High School tournament.
During his time as an official, Mike was selected 6 times to officiate in WI State Tournament (D3 girls Championship and D5 girls Championship) and 7 times as a National AAU official doing National Championships for 13U, 12U and 11U girls basketball.
Mike also received numerous notable assignments during his time in collegiate basketball, where he received two D3 NCAA Tournament, three National JUCO tournament, and various conference playoffs assignments.
Krystal Ellis
Krystal officiates NCAA womens basketball at the division 3 level, and has been selected to officiate the WIAA State tournament on several occasions. Prior to becoming an official, Krystal played collegiate basketball for Marquette University, where she has been inducted in 2018 into the “M Club” Hall of Fame. Ellis’ 1,940 career points were the most in program history, highlighted by a junior season where she averaged over 19 points per game, second-most in the BIG EAST. One of the best 3-point shooters in Marquette history, Ellis hit 37 percent of her tries from outside the arc, fifth all-time.
Playing in arguably the best women’s basketball conference in Division I, Ellis was a four-time All-BIG EAST honoree, including a first team selection twice. Ellis earned honorable mention all-America honors in 2007.
She was the driving force behind Marquette’s 2008 WNIT Championship team – earning MVP honors after scoring 40 points in the quarterfinals against Kentucky and a double-double in the championship against Michigan State.
